Who are the Lynyrd Skynyrd today?

In the career of Lynyrd Skynyrd There are two very precise moments. The first begins with the birth of the band to Jacksonville Florida in 1964, when under the guidance of Ronnie Van Zrent They came to success, especially thanks “Sweet Home Alabama“Of 1974 and ends with the dramatic plane crash of 20 October 1977 in which the singer and guitarist lose their lives Steve Gainesthe chorister Cassie GainesSteve’s sister and the co -founder Ronnie Van Zrant.
With the accident and the leader’s death the band stopped his business, until 1987 when the survivors called Ronnnie’s brother, Johnny Van Zrent (born in 1960), to cement the band and resume activities. The myth of the Lynyrd Skynyrd survived itself and since then the formation, symbol of the Southern Rock (together with the Allman Brothers Band), continued his business. Unfortunately, activities often marked over the years by the disappearance of the members originally of the training. The last, Gary Rossingtonguitarist friend of childhood of Ronnie with whom he laid the foundations for the band, he left us in March 2023. Now the first training remains alone Rickey Medocke Entering the group in 1971 and released the following year, then returned in 1996.

The band’s two lives have welded perfectly with each other, legend leaves room for a present and vice versa. Even now the Lynyrd Skynyrd with their hard rock blues continue intense live activity by inflaming the public all over the world. In July they will bring their music in Italy where they have been missing since 2012 (it is the fourth time they come to us). They are expected Sunday 29 June 2025 in concert in Piazza Ariostea at the Ferrara Summer Festival.
On the occasion of this live we reached Johnny Van Zrant to make us tell about the band and their next concert in our country.

Who are the Lynyrd Skynyrd today?

For me they are blood, passion, my family; This is what we are carrying out. I have been in the band for almost 40 years and we have Ricky Medlock who has been in the group from the beginning and Michael Little that has been part of it for years (since 1999). Many others like Mark Matejka and Peter Keys are with us for a long time and therefore really LS is more than a band, it’s a family, it really is. All those who play this music evening after evening, love the band and its story and try to carry on this inheritance.

What is the relationship with the past?

It is always this relationship between us that extends to the past. I started in 1987 and entered a room where there were the survivors of the 1977 accident, they were with my brother and they asked me to become one of them. Let’s never forget who is no longer there: it is the same with us every night, we hear their spirit. I am very believer, I love Jesus and God. I feel their spirit and who protect me when they are there singing the songs. So there is a very close and good relationship with the past.

What has changed since Gary Rossington died?
Before dying he had heart problems and for some time he was no longer on tour, where we brought Damian Johnson, that Gary appreciated immediately and gave him many advice. Before leaving us he said he wanted the music to go on. Even today, even after it has disappeared, we hope to make it very proud at each concert.

After so many years on the road, how important is the live aspect now?

The LS project was built on live music. The songs were fantastic, but seeing a concert is another thing. I’ve always been a fan of the Rolling Stones, I liked it, but once I saw them live I had an illumination and I realized that I understood. It is the same with us. Come and see a show and it’s a celebration of music. It is a moment of high energy, we don’t just sing and play. This is why we go on.

So what is a concert for you?

It is a time to escape from problems (laughs). I think when you go to listen to music you take some time for you. All daily issues, problems with light, telephone, children, machines, all the difficulties you have in life throws them to the wind for a couple of hours. This is why it is very important for us on stage to give 110% and do our job best. Because this is our job, this is what we do, what we love.
We are lucky to have this opportunity to play the beautiful songs that have been written many years ago but that are still live today. Many ask me if we are not tired of singing “Sweet Home Alabama” or “Freebird”.

And aren’t you?

Absolutely not! How many bands would like this type of song?! But “the public” are incredible. It doesn’t matter if in Europe, America, Brazil or everywhere. We are a single nation, we are a strong community, we are a family. For me it means first of all to give them a good concert. If I can’t, I’m really frightened and disappointed with myself and I don’t like it. I like to be on stage and have fun doing what God gave me the gift to do.

How difficult is life on tour?

Now traveling is no longer so funny. But do you know what? They don’t pay me to play, they pay me for the trip (laughs). Because playing, performing me is easy, it’s funny, it’s still interesting for me. I always like to do it.

Where do you prefer to play? In the club? In the arena?

I played everywhere, the important thing is that there is a satisfied audience and we have always met a lot in the world. But the favorite place is the arenas, where we grew up. But clubs are also fun because having this more restricted audience is a rather beautiful thing. But the bigger it is better. Safe! (Laughs)

What type of show should we expect for the next concert in Italy?

We will play all the big hits, we will follow a liturgy but there will be many less famous things. Don’t worry! “Sweet Home Alabama” will be there. We ensure an excellent show. We are missing from your country and we are impatient to return. The last time in Italy had been to Milan (in reality he was in Vigevano in 2012, in Milan they played in 2009 and in 1997 ed).

What do you know of Italy?

Our drummer Michael Little is Italian and he explained everything to me. Every time I came I thought it was a beautiful country with fantastic people.

For a long time, your studio album has been missing. Are you working on new material?

Before Gary’s death we finished a song entitled “Last of the Street Survivors“And we were starting to prepare a new album. Then his health went worse and we stopped. But we have Bani that he and Ricky Medlock They wrote and therefore we hope to be able to publish something in the future.

What is rock health? Is it still alive?

Are you kidding me? The rock and roll never dies, it will never die. There are many big bands that play, I have discovered many on the internet. I noticed that in several they dress like in the 80s, things are cyclical and sometimes they come back, I am curious to see how it will be in the future but the rock and roll never dies.

What are your favorite bands right now? Or those you are listening now

There is a small group of the Kentucky called Blackstone Cherry that I love. Then there are i BlackBerry Smoke who will do some European shows with us, I love these guys. There is another group, i Texas Tornado (Super Group Tex Mex Californian ed), but there are so many bands in America … I spend a lot of time listening to new artists and my children and friends also recommend me. To answer your question exactly I have to say Blackstone Cherry and Blackberry Smoke.

What can you say to Italian fans?

To Italian fans we say that there is a mutual appreciation. I have a theory. If you are a fan of Leonard Skinner (the character – real – from which the band’s name derives) does not matter where you are, we all have something in common, we are all connected by the great gift of music. So I recommend you go out and come and listen to the music of the LS. It will be fantastic for us to be able to meet some of our fans, tighten our hands, smile and say “hello”.